Hood latch



i'May 3, 1932. E. L. GRUM 1,856,540

HOOD LATCH Filed May 17, 1950 +1 1 1 1 1%. gar-1 1%. 3

INVENTOR A TTORNEYS. I

erting a lateral wherein the understood from Patented May 3, 1932 PATENT OFFICE EMANUEL L. CRUM, 0F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA noon LATCH Application filed May 1'7,

This invention relates to a hood lat-ch of that character adapted to be used for resiliently securing an automobile hood in closed position, while at the same time expressure thereon to prevent rattle.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a hood'latch of this character where in the means for exerting the side pressure 1%) on the side is mounted thereon as distinguished from being mounted upon the latch. For this purpose there is secured to the side of the hood, and preferably associated with the keeper mounted thereon, an outwardly 15 extending spring metal arm provided on its free end with a saddle against which the hood latch is adapted to bear when in operative position, and thus exert a yielding side pressure against the hood.

ne feature of the invention resides in the mounting of the spring member wherein is pivotally secured to the hood to permit adjustment wherein there is misalignment between the latch and hood. Thus, position of the spring on the out-of-line with the mounting of the latch on the chassis, the spring may be adjusted about its pivotal mounting to compensate therefor.

A further feature of the invention resides in the means for limiting the pivotal adjustment of the spring to avoid bein moved to such position that it would not e engaged hood may be by the hood latch.

The full nature of the invention will be the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a portion of an automobile hood and chassis, showing a central vertical section of the hood latch and side spring in operative position. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the keeper and side spring mounted thereon showing a portion thereof in cross section. Fig. 3 is a front elevation thereof with a portion broken away. Fig. 4 is the same as Fig. 3 showing a modified form.

In the drawings there is shown a portion of an automobile hood 10 and a chassis mem- 1930. Serial N0. 458,117.

ber llhaving an upwardly extending flange 12 against which the hood is adapted to be held in closed position. Secured to the chassis portion 11 there is an which is loosely secured the anchor rod 14: through the medium of the enlarged head 15. The anchor rod extends upwardly through the lowerend of the barrel 16 of the latch, and is surrounded by the spiral compression spring plate 23 of the keeper there is a spring arm comprising the plate portion 25, the outwardly extending intermediate portion 26 and the saddle portion 27. The plate portion 25 bears firmly against the plate 23 and is pivotall connected therewith bythe rivet or bolt 28. The pocket 24 is open at the lower portion thereof so as to receive the upper part of the plate 25. Said plate 25 is further provided with an ear 29formed on the top part thereof and extending upwardly 24 in position to engage the side edges of said pocket for limiting the swinging movement of the arm.

The position of the arm 26 is such the latch being moved to operable illustrated in Fig. 1, the side surface of the barrel 16 will engage in the saddle 2'? of the spring arm and force it under spring tension toward the hood, thereby yieldingly forcing the hoodunder tension against the flange 12 so as to prevent any rattle thereof.

From the above it will be noted that where as the arm may be swung about its pivotal connection with respect to the keeper plate so as to be aligned with the barrel of the latch. by reason of the tongue 2.) limiting its pivotal movement, at no time can said arm be swung to an extreme position wherein the latch would not contact therewith. Within the limitations of the adjustment of said arm, the

that upon position as latch will always engage some portion there-v anchor plate 13 to adapted to engage over the keeper 22 which into the pocket of, while its adjustment permits of such positioning as to normally center the'arm and latch with respect to each other. In'addition to the above,.the plate 25 is placed and held firmly against the keeper plate by the overlapping of the'pocket whereby it is held both at the top and at the pivotal point against any tilting action This arrangement steadies the connection between the arm and the keeper and eliminates undue strain upon the rivet 28. A

The plate 23, as shown in Fig.2, isprovided with an opening surrounded by an up;

23 extending throughout "the turned flange thickness of the plate '25, and protruding through the center opening therein, whereby said flange 23 serves as a pivotal bearing for between 1.;The combination with a vehicle hood and chassis member, of a said plate. The rivet or bolt 28 extends through the opening in the plate 23 andflange 23", so that the enlarged head thereon extends radially beyond the flange 23 bearing f the plate 25 for face o i This movement to the positions illustrated in dotted lines therein.

The invention claimed is:

hood latch therefor having one end anchored to said chassis and the other end yieldingly connected there with,a keeper fixedly secured to the side of be'engaged by the said'hood in a'position to free end of said latch for'yieldinglyholding the hood'in lowered position, and a spring armadjustably mounted on said keeper so as to extend downwardly andoutwardly from said hood in position to be engaged byjsaid latch under spring tension when in operative position for holding said hood under-tension against lateral movement with respect to said chassis. v V

2. In a hood latch for vehicles, the combination with a yielding hold-downj latch having a body portion, of a keeper'fixedly attached to the hood in position to be engaged by said latch for holding said hood in downward position, a spring arm pivotally connected with said keeper in position to be strengthens the pivotal connection so that no sub-.-

limits for preventing movement of said arm beyond a contacting position with said latch.

3. In ahood latch for vehicles, the combination with a yielding having a body portion, of a keeper fixedly attached to the hood in position to be engaged by said latchior holding said hood hold-down latch I in downward position, a spring arm pivot- I ally connected with said keeper in position to be engaged by the body of said hood latch when in operative position for exerting a yielding inward pressure against said hood, said "arm being adjustable about its pivotal mounting to permit of alignment thereof with said latch, means for limiting the pivotal movement of said arm within predetermined limits tor preventing movement of said arm beyond a contacting :position with said latch, and-means for engaging the opposite end of said arm from the free end thereof for holding it against tilting action about said pivotal connection. V

In witness whereof, I have hereunto afiixed my signature. i

V 'EMANUEL L. CRUM.

engaged by the bodyot said hood latch when in operative position for-exerting a yielding inward pressure against said hood, said arm being adjustable to permit of I alignment thereof with said latch, and'fmeans for limiting the pivotal movement ofsaid arm within predetermined about its pivotal mounting 

